Darabont to Tackle 2 More Kings

Reporting in from Comic-Con, Andrew Kasch confirmed what Frank Darabont alluded to in an interview with Lilja’s Library some months back: He has indeed signed on for adaptations of the two Stephen King stories The Long Walk (which King wrote as Richard Bachman) and “The Monkey,” which, like the upcoming film The Mist, is a tale from King’s Skeleton Crew compilation.

For those unfamiliar with the works, The Long Walk is about a 16-year-old boy who is on a survival walk with 99 others. They walk for honor and their lives with the winner being promised everything his or her heart desires. “The Monkey” couldn’t be more different; as Darabont says, it’s “gentle and old-fashioned Steve King storytelling” that revolves around a father-son relationship and a toy monkey whose clanging symbols are harbingers of death.

No word yet on any of the particulars of either film other than Darabont’s promise they will be “low budget,” which sounds encouraging. Usually with King’s writings, the less studio meddling, the better. In the meantime mark November 21st on your calendars; that’s the day The Mist starring Thomas Jane opens nationwide. From what we’ve seen so far, this one looks like finally someone got it right.